Robbie Burns Night

6:30 PM Edit This 1 Comment »

Happy Robbie Burns Night! I need to go get me some haggis...!

Anyone up for some Haggis, Wine and a "bean" game (Bohnanza)?

WHY?

12:37 PM Edit This 6 Comments »
Why do I always get the teacher who doubts me and my abilities for clinical? I swear, I must have bad luck when it comes to this. The teacher I have now (for the next 3 months) says that I should NOT be a nurse, that if she were my mother she would not allow me to do this, taht I have been through enough hardship already in my life,... BLAH BLAH BLAH! All this BEFORE she even sees my in clinical and/or speaks to previous teaches who can stick up for me!

I can see that I have a fight on my hands and will have to prove myself EVERY day I have her! Great!

ARGH! GRRRRRR!

Sad

4:36 PM Edit This 1 Comment »
I feel sad, my friend is leaving for the USA for a year (I hope not 2). I am happy for her, she will experience new things, be with the guy she loves, and learn new things on the job.

It will be weird not seeing her, not that I see her every day, but now I know I won't be... I can pick up the phone and call her I know or email (as we often do now) or use msn messenger, but still, in a weird way feel like I am losing a friend. (I know I am not, it's just what I feel).

Good Luck my friend, have fun and COME BACK WITH the guy!
SO I won't say goodbuy, but see you soon!

First Day

7:04 PM Edit This 0 Comments »
Ok, I made it through DAY 1... LONG lab day, but good. Had fun too, found out who would be in my clinical group, out of the 7 of us I know 4, the other 2 are from the previous year.

My clinical teacher is apparently the one to have, the others are jealous, so I guess it's a good sign. She is strict, and demanding in what she wants, but has a sense of humour and is friendly. We'll see what she's like in clinical. I am on 6 medical at the RVH. Never been to that ward, been told that we get a real mix of diagnoses. Should be interesting...

So, here we go! Oh ya, she also told us that it is impossible to get 80's-90's in Med-Surge II... great! NOT a good sign when the teacher tells you this... oye!

Well, I'll keep you all posted (literally) on what happens, that's it for now, I have to go do some homework for TOMORROW!

I'll be learning ALL this in 15 weeks?

8:52 PM Edit This 1 Comment »
This is what I will be doing in Nursing 322 this semester (my 4th out of 6);

For my Theory class:
Professionalism
Pancreatitis,
Pneumonia,
Abdo sx & Peptic ulcer,
COPD,
Occupational health; Pulmonary embolism, TB,
UTI/Pylonephritis,
Diabetes (adult),
Ethics+Values,
NSG process/Family, Coping w/ Loss&Grief.,
Adrenal imbalance, Thyroid imbalance,
Neoplasms, Chemo & Radiation,
GU obstruction, GU: renal failure, IBD,
Cancer Lung/Skin, Colon cancer, Breast cancer
STD, HIV&AIDS,
Transfusion Reactions,
Allergies & Anaphylaxis,
Spousal abuse/rape

Nursing Lab/Practical (ALL this is done in 6 labs!):
Clinical Skills review (aspetic technique, IV therapy, physical assessment, chest assessment, O2/aerosol equipment/tx)
Tracheostomy care and suctioning
Sputum collection (review), oro/nasopharyngeal suctioning (review)
Chest tubes
NG tube insertion
Enteral Feeding
Blood Glucose testing/monitoring (review)
TPN/PPN via central & PICC lines
Urinary Catheterization (insertionn/specimen collection/irrigation..)
Communication lab/patient teaching/OSCE Practice!

a few glitches in my blog

4:42 PM Edit This 0 Comments »
I change the template for my blog in order to play with font and colors, it re-formatted a little weird for some of my older posts... I'll fix it at some point, just have fun reading!

Remembering how far I've come...

12:13 PM Edit This 2 Comments »

I start Med-Surge II tomorrow. The hardest semester in nursing school. I have to focus and just do it. Study like crazy without going crazy. I have worked so hard to get this far, from being paralyzed and in hospital for 10 weeks, to rehab hospital for another 8 weeks, out-patient for another year, going back to work, then going to nursing school. I can walk now, albeit with a brace and cane and at times have had to prove myself to others and to myself. This won't stop, I know, but with time others will accept it and not question whether I can or can't.

I jokingly said to a friend (and former nurse of mine) that I should write a book. I was only half joking, she said I should too. Maybe one day, when I have more time. Though I should start now, bit by bit, while I can still recall all that has happened.

To those who read this, continue to support me, leave comments if you like and even though I tend to go into crazy-student- study-mode during the semester, I am still here and do enjoy the distraction of getting an email or phone call!

I look at this picture and remember all I've been through and remember how far I've come.

Brrrrr... It's COLD!

11:38 AM Edit This 0 Comments »

One day left of vacation and it's too damn cold to go out!
Unless you are a penguin, of course!

Gearing up

9:52 PM Posted In Edit This 0 Comments »
Well, went to school, bought my class and lab workbooks... now I have to actually start reading! I still have a week, well 6 days.
Just reading through what I will learn in the next 15 weeks gives me a headache and I feel nauseaus, GREAT! Let the stress begin!

Still here

2:28 PM Edit This 3 Comments »
Sorry blogging has been been so lght lately, I am still on Christmas break. I start up again January 18th, a Thursday.. a LONG lab day!
Will update as it comes! Stay tuned.

You Are Kermit

Hi, ho! Lovable and friendly, you get along well with everyone you know.
You're a big thinker, and sometimes you over think life's problems.
Don't worry - everyone know's it's not easy being green.
Just remember, time's fun when you're having flies!

Difference Between A Graduate Nurse and an Experienced Nurse!

6:48 PM Edit This 1 Comment »

A Graduate Nurse throws up when the patient does.
An experienced nurse calls housekeeping when a patient throws up

A Graduate Nurse wears so many pins on their name badge you can´t read it.
An experienced nurse doesn´t wear a name badge for liability reasons

A Graduate Nurse charts too much.
An experienced nurse doesn´t chart enough.

A Graduate Nurse loves to run to codes.
An experienced nurse makes graduate nurses run to codes.

A Graduate Nurse wants everyone to know they are a nurse.
An experienced nurse doesn´t want anyone to know they are a nurse.

A Graduate Nurse keeps detailed notes on a pad.
An experienced nurse writes on the back of their hand, paper scraps, napkins, etc.

A Graduate Nurse will spend all day trying to reorient a patient.
An experienced nurse will chart the patient is disoriented and restrain them.

A Graduate Nurse can hear a beeping I-med at 50 yards.
An experienced nurse can´t hear any alarms at any distance.

A Graduate Nurse loves to hear abnormal heart and breath sounds.
An experienced nurse doesn´t want to know about them unless the patient is symptomatic.

A Graduate Nurse spends 2 hours giving a patient a bath.
An experienced nurse lets the CNA give the patient a bath.

A Graduate Nurse thinks people respect Nurses.
An experienced nurse knows everybody blames everything on the nurse.

A Graduate Nurse looks for blood on a bandage hoping they will get to change it.
An experienced nurse knows a little blood never hurt anybody.

A Graduate Nurse looks for a chance "to work with the family."
An experienced nurse avoids the family.

A Graduate Nurse expects meds and supplies to be delivered on time.
An experienced nurse expects them to never be delivered at all.

A Graduate Nurse will spend days bladder training an incontinent patient.
An experienced nurse will insert a Foley catheter.

A Graduate Nurse always answers their phone.
An experienced nurse checks their caller ID before answering the phone.

A Graduate Nurse thinks psych patients are interesting.
An experienced nurse thinks psych patients are crazy.

A Graduate Nurse carries reference books in their bag.
An experienced nurse carries magazines, lunch, and some "cough syrup" in their bag.

A Graduate Nurse doesn´t find this funny.
An experienced nurse does.